Consumer tips from the Better Business Bureau, job-search advice and technology news.

Security tips and reputation management for job-hunters

About this blog

Consumer tips from the Better Business Bureau, job-search advice and technology news compiled by GateHouse News Service. From ideas for starting a business, to interviewing, to career education, we have you covered at all levels of employment. Plus,
...

Consumer tips from the Better Business Bureau, job-search advice and technology news compiled by GateHouse News Service. From ideas for starting a business, to interviewing, to career education, we have you covered at all levels of employment. Plus, weekly updates on what's new and buzzworthy in the technology field.

Recent Posts

Businessman giving papers to client

Feb. 13, 2013
6:11 p.m.

When you're job-hunting you go to great lengths to stand out among the hundreds -- even thousands -- of applicants for a single open position. But while you're working to catch an employer's eye, have you considered the importance of protecting your information from unwanted attention? Or the need to manage the online reputation you do want employers to see?

Searching online can be a great way to find your dream job, but it also requires you to take extra precautions to protect your personal information and to manage your online reputation. Enterprising identity thieves and scam artists may take advantage of personal, identifying information posted on job boards and online resume sites. And with social media making potentially embarrassing information and images widely available, it's important for job-seekers to manage what potential employers may find if they were to perform an online search of a candidate's name.

Protecting your personal information

When you post a resume on a job board, the information is usually public and viewable by anyone who wants to see it. Some websites allow you to control what is viewable and who can see it, limiting access only to potential employers who have registered with the site. Others do not restrict who can access resumes. It's important to know the privacy policies and settings of any employment website where you will post your resume or apply for jobs.

Consider how much personally identifying information you will share. Information such as your name and past work history may be essential, but keep in mind that no potential employer should ever ask for your Social Security number or financial information during the initial phases of your interaction. If a response to your resume comes with a request for your SSN or account number, be very skeptical and ask why this information is needed so early in the application process.

While conducting your online job search, it's important to keep an eye on your credit and financial accounts, because that's where identity fraud will first show up.

Protecting your current job

Consider how your current employer will react if someone from your company comes across your active resume online.

While your current employer likely won't fire you just for posting your resume on a job site, the situation can -- at the very least -- be uncomfortable. Before you begin circulating your resume or posting on job boards, be sure you know how your current employer would react if your information was found online. If you wish to keep your job search private, make sure to review the privacy settings of any job search websites you're using.

Conduct your search as honorably as possible, sending resumes, emails, etc. on your own time -- and not when you're supposed to be working for your current boss. Likewise, maintain a separate email address that you use solely for your job search; never use a work email address during a job search.

Protecting your prospects

By now you've likely read or heard media reports of prospective employers searching social media sites for information on job applicants. It's important to manage what employers may view in social media. If you haven't already done so, restrict access to your social media accounts so that your posts and photos can only be viewed by people you've granted permission to. Be sure to set privacy settings to their most restrictive.

Privacy controls notwithstanding, remember that when it comes to the Internet there's no such thing as 100 percent private. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind when using social media is if you would be embarrassed to have your mother or boss view the content, don't post it.